Thabo Bester claims lawyers don't want to be associated with him

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Kgomotso Modise

JOHANNESBURG - Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester told the Bloemfontein High Court that he could not secure a lawyer to represent him, not because of money but because they did not want to be associated with him.

Bester, who appeared in court on Wednesday for his alleged prison break over two years ago, shared an emotional account of his bad experience behind bars.

He and eight others, including his lover and accomplice, Doctor Nandipha Magudumana, face over 30 counts of fraud, corruption, violating a corpse, and aiding and abetting a prisoner escape.

Bester's set of lawyers withdrew from the case, citing a lack of financial instructions and difficulties consulting with him while he was detained in Gauteng.

READ: Katlego Bereng's mother dismisses Thabo Bester's court rant as 'nonsense

During his rant, Bester told the court that he was deprived of his right to legal representation.

"You will find the best attorney but they will refuse the brief. It's not a matter of funds, it's a matter of association and it's not fair. It means that I am not equal in this court and if that is the case, then it's a waste of time to come to court - you might as well just sentence me," he said.

Bester has until the end of next month to find new lawyers and to consult with them in preparation for trial, something he said would likely not happen under his conditions of detention at the Kgosi Mampuru C-Max Prison.